But at least with a 64 litre fuel tank, the Porsche Boxster will still post reasonable mileages between refills.

Porsche offers a three year unlimited mileage warranty and an impressive 20,000 mile service interval. As for residual values, Boxsters have never struggled to stave off depreciation and so long as Porsche is not too greedy and oversupply the new model, we expect the reputation of the model and the company behind it to maintain this status quo.

Indeed the only thing likely to lead to financial embarrassment is over enthusiasm with the options list. The car comes with just four standard colours – anything else costs more. And if you want fairly basic stuff, like a wind deflector, DAB radio or Bluetooth, all will cost extra.

Porsche even charges for the floor mats. So keep the options to the essentials (including navigation) unless you’re happy to splurge thousands on items the car doesn’t really need and whose cost will largely be lost the moment you write the cheque.